Just over 3 months since her last trip to the UK, Jillian Jacqueline returned to support Kip Moore once again on his latest headline tour. Coming days before both artists perform at The Long Road, the show was packed with eager fans and those wanting a double dose of Country goodness before the festival this weekend. Jacqueline has been steadily building a fanbase here in the UK since she first came over to perform as part of Country Music Week in October 2017. She returned for C2C in 2018 and earlier this year she supported Kip Moore on his Room to Spare Acoustic Tour before headlining her first UK show just two days after.
Arriving on stage shortly after 8pm and sporting a cute new hair do, Jacqueline put the emphasis on new material for her 6-song support set. Those who were at her headline show at Hoxton Bar and Grill in June had the pleasure of hearing these songs then but in a bigger venue, they got a little more room to breathe and Jacqueline’s crystal-clear vocals soared. Accompanied on guitar by her husband Bryan Brown, Jacqueline opened with love song The Ocean. Different in style to anything that featured on Side A or Side B, The Ocean is a sweeping love song about finding the love of your life and it’s a beauty.
The next song of the night was When It Rains, a song Jacqueline introduced by apologising to Bryan for singing about an ex. Like The Ocean it’s a little different to what fans may have heard before as Jacqueline sings about the rain reminding her of an ex-boyfriend. It’s the kind of song most of us can relate to and her vocals on it sounded stunning. The first Side A cut of the night was the razor-sharp Holier Than Thou, which lifted the tempo up, before new song Compliment, a stinging confessional about how a former partner still paying you attention is actually very hurtful.
One of the highlights of the set was a cover of Pam Tillis’ Maybe It Was Memphis. Jacqueline sang like I’ve never heard her before, showing incredible vocal control on the belts, utilising impressive vibrato. She also flourished her delivery with a few runs here and there, which sent shivers down my spine, especially as she makes it all seem so effortless.
Closing out the set were the familiar tracks Tragic, which is fast becoming Jacqueline’s signature tune, and the gorgeous and heartfelt God Bless This Mess. Those songs saw the audience joining in (especially Tragic) and it was a perfect end to another wonderful set from the talented rising star.
Jillian Jacqueline really is the kind of artist you need to see live. I love her releases so far but seeing her live is a completely different experience. Between the amusing banter and the knockout vocals, Jacqueline manages to win over any room and convert new fans in the process. I don’t know any other artist out there making music like she is right now and that, for me, makes her very special. With the promise of a full-length album on the way, 2020 could well be Jacqueline’s year.
Set list: 1. The Ocean 2. When It Rains 3. Holier Than Thou 4. Compliment 4. Maybe It Was Memphis (Pam Tillis cover) 5. Tragic 6. God Bless This Mess Performance date: 2nd September 2019
